New project of the 7th European Framework Programme for Research of Buffeting Control – BUTERFLI has been launched
6 December 2013
In early November the first organizational meeting of the new project of the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union — “Research of buffeting and boundary layer laminar- turbulent transition control to improve aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft” was held in Paris (BUTERFLI — BUffet and Transition delay control investigated within European-Russian cooperation for improved FLIght performance).
FSUE TsAGI was selected as the project coordinator from Russia, which also is represented by MIPT, ITAM SB RAS, JIHT RAS, and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft CJSC. Project Coordinator of the EU is ONERA (France). Participating organizations from the EU are DLR (Germany), KTH (Sweden), the University of Stuttgart (Germany), and EADS (UK). The supervisor of the project is Airbus (Germany).
The project was selected in the second coordinated EU-Russia competition of the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union on “Theoretical and experimental studies of flow control to improve aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft.” Work will be conducted during three years, beginning on October 1, 2013.
BUTERFLI has undergone a double selection procedure, based on competitions of the 7th European Framework Programme and of the Ministry of Industry of the Russian Federation, receiving high praise from international and Russian experts, as well as the European Commission.
The main objective of the project is to develop scientific and technological potential to improve aerodynamic characteristics of next-generation civil aircraft. The potential is being created, among others, on the basis of innovative aircraft flow control systems, aimed at delaying the start of buffeting on wings with turbulent boundary layer, and delay of laminar-turbulent boundary layer transition on profiles and wings.
According to the results of the BUTERFLI project, aircraft manufacturers will be given recommendations on improvement of aerodynamic characteristics of next-generation civil aircraft using the latest flow control methods. To assess the effectiveness of flow control systems and applicability of these systems on real aircraft the leading industrial aircraft manufacturers were invited to take part in the project — Sukhoi Civil Aircraft CJSC from Russia and EADS from the EU.